William L. Sonntag, Jr.

William Sonntag, Jr. was named after his father, who was a well known Hudson River School painter. A talented draftsman, Sonntag Jr. also learned painting from his father and took classes at the National Academy of Design in New York City, where he grew up. His work was exhibited at the Academy in the late 1880s. His ability to quickly and accurately draw a scene made him a successful commercial illustrator, producing images for local newspapers and magazine before photography became common place. His career was regrettably short-lived. He died at the age of twenty-nine.